Today’s GK & Current Affairs Quiz for March 05, 2019

The 46th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation was held in Abu Dhabi on 1st and 2nd March 2019. The Minister for External Affairs Smt. Sushma Swaraj had been invited by HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates as the “Guest of Honour” to address the Inaugural Plenary.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Construction Technology India 2019 Expo cum Conference in Delhi. The conference will identify proven, innovative and globally established technologies for use in the Indian context. Youth are the main beneficiaries of this initiative.

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank(AIIB) will provide a loan of USD 455 million to finance the Andhra Pradesh Rural Roads Project,, which will connect abiding out 3,300 habitations with a population of more than 250, and benefit around two million people.

Border Security Force and Border Guards Bangladesh concluded a three-day “Mainamati Maitree Exercise 2019” as a part of ‘Confidence Building Measures’ between the two border guards. The exercise was named after a hill range situated 8 km west of Comilla township in Bangladesh, which is home to an ancient Buddhist archaeological site in the region.

A National Conference on “Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme” was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot at New Delhi. The Conference was organised by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Government think tank NITI Aayog partnered with software major Adobe to develop creative skills and spread digital literacy among school children in India. The Statement of Intent (SOI) signed by NITI Aayog and Adobe as part of the Atal Innovation Mission will open Digital Disha Programme across 100 schools under the Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL).

DCB Bank announced the launch of its Open banking Platform, a significant step towards creating a collaborative ecosystem with enterprises, fintechs and app developers, and enhancing customer-service delivery. They will partner with DCB Bank for access to its Open Banking Platform APIs as well as collaboration on innovation and customer-centric products.

Singaporean Lender DBS is set to convert its India operations into a wholly owned subsidiary, and the transition will have no impact on the services and benefits extended to existing. customers. The Asian bank, which presently operates 12 branches in the country as a franchise, had incorporated locally as DBS Bank India Ltd on March 1.

IFFCO Tokio General Insurance Company announced the launch of Bank locker Protector Policy, which is the first policy in the industry to protect the contents of a bank locker such as jewellery and other valuables. The policy offers seven options of sum insured ranging from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 40 lakh and above. The premium rate is affordable with a cover of Rs 3 lakh available at just Rs 300, which is less than Rs 1 per day.

The RBI announced a task force headed by its former deputy governor Usha Thorat to examine issues related to offshore rupee markets and recommend policy measures to ensure the stability of the external value of the domestic currency. The task force will submit its report by June- end.

India’s Shashank Shekhar won the 10-kilometre race of Nepal’s Chief of Army Staff Open Marathon and Run for Fun held in Kathmandu. Shekhar of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Contingent at Embassy of India in Kathmandu secured the first position.COAS Open Marathon and Run for Fun is an annual event organised by the Nepal Army.

Ravneet Gill joined Yes Bank as its MD and CEO with immediate effect for a tenure of three years. His appointment will be subject to the approval of shareholders at the ensuing Annual General Meeting of the bank to be held in June.

Zero Discrimination Day is observed on March 1 and it aims to address the issue of discrimination faced by people across the world. The day further intends to achieve equality before law throughout all member countries of the UN. The theme is “Act to change Laws that Discriminate”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a giant Bhagavad Gita, running into 670 pages and weighing 800 kg, at the ISKCON temple in New Delhi. Dubbed the ‘Astounding Bhagavad Gita’, and measuring 2.8 m by 2 m, it is billed as the “largest principle sacred text ever to be printed.

The ministry of Civil Aviation organised a conclave on the theme “flying for All” where more than 200 delegates including industry leaders and regulators deliberated on issues and opportunities in the sector. This Conclave is about the future of Indian aviation – it bringing together industry leaders, government and regulators for setting the tone and propelling us to realize our Vision-2040.